Southwest NS Photo Shoot 2016

A few years ago, inspired by my friend Barb who was doing a similar thing in Saint John, I organized a photo shoot where a few photographers got together with a few models to make pictures for the afternoon. Some hair stylists and a makeup artist volunteered to get the models ready. Everyone had a great time and we did it again the next year. And now, after a hiatus of a couple of years, the Southwest NS Photo Shoot is back. The day started early, with the models arriving to The Style Merchant to start their preparation. The team there was incredible. Along with owner Krista Smith, there were three hairstylists and two makeup artists ready to help out. Even though they were back at work early on a day off, everyone was really welcoming and super helpful. And the job they did with the hair styling and makeup was phenomenal. And in addition to the hair and makeup, The Style Merchant also provided us with clothing and the location for the shoot. I'm incredibly thankful for all that Krista and the rest of the team there provided. We were a big crew with six models, four photographers, and a videographer invading their space but we really were made to feel right at home.

While a lot of us photographers in the area know each other, it is rare that we get to shoot together. It's a lot fun to have an excuse to get together but also get to see how someone else manages the same lighting situation. We had enough space and variety of shooting locations within the building that we weren't tripping over each other, but we also could help each other out. The other photographers that were there were Clifton Saulnier, Michael Carty, and Sue Hutchins. This year we also had Haley D with us doing some behind the scenes video (and helping out with the styling and wardrobe). You can check out the video below.

I'm really, really happy with the images that I ended up with out of this shoot. I have a tonne more that I could share. It was really hard to narrow it down to these few favourites but I didn't want to make you scroll forever.

When I organize these shoots, I'm always amazed at how willing everyone is to help out. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved!

Models: Ashley Goodwin, Sarah Gagnon, Ingrid D'Eon, Stephanie Surette, Taylor Meaghan Winters, and Laura Goodwin. Hair, Makeup, Wardrobe, Styling: Krista Smith, Mikey Spinney, Desiree Therrien, Faith Greene, Caitlin Weagle, Kate Hayden Videography, Styling, Wardrobe: Haley D

SWNS Photoshoot - Behind the Scenes from Haley D on Vimeo.

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Holiday trip to Saint John

After spending a great Christmas here in Yarmouth with Sherrie's family, we travelled to Saint John to spend some time with my family (7 adults, 2 kids, and a dog in one bungalow!). It was like stepping into a winter wonderland. All of the ice from their ice storm was still coating everything with a couple of heapings of snow piled on top. Despite the cold and shovelling that went along with it, it was really beautiful. The sunrise and sunset light sparkling through the ice was spectacular. After shovelling and sliding one morning I wandered through some of the wild places nearby to take a few pictures. Now we're home and it's a blizzard in Yarmouth! [blogshow id=4622 player=0 autoplay=0 toolbar=1]

My Backyard and In the Gardens

This is my favourite time of year in our yard. It's a big job getting our gardens ready for summer. This year I've been replacing the wood in our raised herb and vegetable beds too. P and T were pretty excited when the dump truck arrived yesterday with the dirt and compost. P even got to press the button to dump the dirt. T immediately grabbed a shovel and started yelling, "Hurry! It's quick-setting dirt!" (We have a cute book about a family who has some quick-setting concrete delivered) It's also my favourite time of year to photograph in the garden. I like it just before the tulips burst into full colour, when the gardens are a carpet of green (and the weeds aren't at full strength). I'm sure the neighbours think I'm nuts when they look out and see me crawling around on my belly in my old bright red raincoat. I'm also involved with another garden project right now. It's a show at the Yarmouth Branch of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia that is called 'In the Gardens'. Yarmouth Garden Club members  have been teamed up with a writer, a painter, and a photographer who each create a work based on that garden. I had the opportunity to work in Judy and Earl Raynard's garden on the Tusket river in Raynardton. It's an absolutely gorgeous spot with lots of history. I'll post some of my shots from there closer to the opening of the show. The works are all going to be on display in the community room from June 13th until July 27th. There will be a reception on June 20th from 5-7pm. [blogshow id=454e player=0 autoplay=0 toolbar=0]

Southwest NS Photo Shoot 2013

Last Sunday was our second annual Southwest NS Photo Shoot. (I'm still trying to come up with a catchier name. I'm open to suggestions.) I had a fantastic time again this year. The day started early at Styles Unlimited, with Jill Goodwin doing hair. Jill took my vague non-directions and came up with the perfect styles. Jennie Surette of Afterglow Spa did a great job on makeup again this time around. For the shooting time in the afternoon we were at the Churchill Mansion. Paul and Susan have just finished a major renovation of the mansion and are opening as a bed and breakfast in May. They were incredible hosts to us for the afternoon, very welcoming and hospitable. And the mansion's feel of timeless luxury was perfect for our 1920's inspired theme. Anyone staying there will be in for a treat. There were fewer of us this year because a couple of photographers couldn't make it at the last minute. The other two photographers who could were Clifton Saulnier and Michael Carty. We made sure to take part of the afternoon to work collaboratively. It's always helpful to see how other photographers approach the same situation. And I'm endlessly fascinated by how different our final results are. You can see some of their pics on their Facebook pages (Michael's and Clifton's).

Thank you so much to everyone who was involved. I was completely blown away again this year by how willing anyone who I asked to be involved was. And a special huge thank you to Tracey Crabtree Gunn, Danielle Driscoll, and Adrienne Beaudette for modelling for us (and to Adrienne for taking care of a lot of the styling for the shoot). They had the longest day of any of us and were all still smiling by suppertime.

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Happy March!

I should be used to it by now, but February always surprises me by seeming to disappear quickly (a little less every four years I guess). So, Happy March! March is a bit of a psychological turning point around here. The snowdrops are poking through and we can start eating out of our garden again (it may be only chives for a while, but every little bit counts). Spring is on its way and there's not much more encouraging than that. I picked up a new lens and a softbox recently so I tried them out on my usual guinea pigs subjects. The puzzles the boys are working on in the pictures are Valentine's notes mailed to them by a sweet friend in Toronto. They were very excited about them. I think it may be the first puzzle P has ever really stuck with until it was finished.

A few of us are getting together to do another SouthWest NS Photo Shoot this weekend. This time we're inspired by the 20's and I'm really looking forward to what we'll come up with. I've been absolutely amazed again by how people are willing to help make something happen.

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